"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." – Khalil Gibran

Diane Russo

My name is Diane Russo, I am from Staten Island, New York, and I am 50 years old. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis 8 years ago, but I have lived with pain all my adult life. My back is starting to fuse now, so I’ve come to terms with the illness. I worked in Manhattan, at a Law Firm, had a wonderful career, but one day, I just could not work anymore, I could not commute to work, I could no longer drive. From a career that took me 30 years to build, I now wander from my couch to my bed….not being able to work…..but not giving up either. Now my day to day struggle is coping with my illness, and coming to terms with my limits. I am not hopeless…..I am hopeful that one day there will be a cure for AS